Allegheny Trail

Last updated
Allegheny Trail
Length330 mi (530 km)
LocationEastern West Virginia, USA
Trailheads South: Appalachian Trail
North: Mason–Dixon line
UseHiking
Hazards Severe Weather

The Allegheny Trail is a 330-mile (530 km) hiking trail that passes through the Allegheny Mountains in West Virginia, and part of western Virginia, United States. It is the longest named trail in the state excepting the Appalachian Trail, 4 miles (6.4 km) of which traverses the state at Harpers Ferry.

History

The trail was formed in 1975 by Nicolas B. Lozano and Robert (Bob) Tabor Jr. After a chance encounter at meeting of the Izaak Watson league and a long discussion in the parking lot about a shared dream of a trail connecting to the Appalachian Trail and the West Virginia – Virginia border, the idea for the Alleghany trail first took form in 1971. After scouting out potential locations for the trail in Pocahontas County, West Virginia in July 1971, the two and three others founded the West Virginia Scenic Trails Association, then known as the West Virginia Scenic Trails Conference in October 1971. After some organizational meetings, flagging began on the trail from Peters Mountain to the Salt Sulphur Springs Turnpike in August 1973. In April 1974, the West Virginia Scenic Trails Conference was renamed the West Virginia Scenic Trails Association, and remains so to this day. Also in 9174, this time in July, the original routing and blaze color for the Allegheny Trail were selected. Although International Orange was the first selection, the color was off limits due to having recently been given a national designation for trial use by off-road vehicles, so the color yellow was chosen instead. The first official agreement was signed in regard to the trail in August 1975, between the West Virginia Scenic Trails Association and the West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, with more agreements following after. [1]

Navigation and Administration

The trail is broken down into four sections, each with a coordinator and all but section four with an assistant coordinator administering the trail. The trail as a whole is managed and administered by West Virginia Scenic Trails Association, a volunteer association. [2]

Section One

The first of the Alleghany Trail begins at the northern terminus of the Allegheny Trail, which is a signed trailhead near Bruceton Mills at the Mason–Dixon line, which here represents the boundary between West Virginia and Pennsylvania. Originally routed for 89.0 miles from the Mason-Dixon line to the stables parking lot in Blackwater Falls State Park, [3] the section now runs approximately due south for 95.1 miles and ends at the stables parking lot in Blackwater Falls State Park. [4]  This section had to be rerouted around the Army National Guard firing range at Camp Dawson. [2]

Section Two

Section two of the trail begins at the terminus of section one in the stables parking lot in Blackwater Falls State Park and runs approximately southwest for 91.8 miles to the parking lot for the Cass Scenic Railroad. [4] The original route in the 1983 first edition hiking guide ran for 88.9 miles from the same starting point to the east side of the Greenbrier River in Cass, West Virginia. [3] One of the major hiking challenges in this section is the lower Glady Fork, where two washouts in 1985 and the earls 2000s, as well as numerous flash floods along the 5.4 mile lower Glady Fork section of the Allegheny Trail can make navigating this section rather difficult and has necessitated the finding of an alternate high water route around the washouts. This route is not always necessary but is always available for high water conditions, which are usually in late fall to early summer. [5]

Section Three

The original routing for section three in 1983 ran from the original terminus of section two on the east side of the Greenbrier River in Cass to The Dock on Meadow Creek near Lake Sherwood. [3] This route was 48.7 Miles and also ran mostly southwest, with a due east section at the end. The current routing runs 64.26 miles from the Cass Scenic Railroad Parking lot to an intersection in Greenbrier County where the trail meets county road 14. This section of trail was partially temporarily rerouted to Beaver Lick mountain road in January, 2022 to navigate around a logging project near the dock that may take up to three years. [6]

Section Four

The original routing does not provide a distance in miles, as section four was still in development when the first edition hiking guide was written in 1983. As noted in the first edition hiking guide, “Officially the southern end of the Alleghany Trail will be at the junction with the Appalachian Trail. But effectively, the Alleghany Trail will have its southernmost point at Sugarcamp farm (near Lindside).” [3] The assumed starting point for this section is the terminus of section three. As of the 2019 4th edition of the guide, section four of the trail ends at the Appalachian Trail on Peters Mountain on the Virginia – West Virginia border. [4] The trail does not route all the way there however, as section four is in two subsections divided by a 33.3 mile road walk. [2] [4] Including the road walk, this section is 69.95 miles. The two subsections themselves, excluding the road walk, total 36.65 miles.

Section Four North

The north subsection of section four is a 15.63 mile hike from the terminus of section three to interstate 64. [4]

Section Four South

The southern subsection of section four is a 21.02 mile hike from the south trailhead at hanging rock to the southern terminus of the Alleghany Trail at the junction with the Appalachian trail on Peters Mountain, at the West Virginia – Virginia border. [4]


Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Appalachian Trail</span> Hiking trail going through fourteen US states

The Appalachian Trail, also called the A.T., is a hiking trail in the Eastern United States, extending almost 2,200 miles (3,540 km) between Springer Mountain in Georgia and Mount Katahdin in Maine, and passing through 14 states. The Appalachian Trail Conservancy claims the Appalachian Trail to be the world's longest hiking-only trail. More than three million people hike segments of it each year.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tuscarora Trail</span> Long distance eastern U.S. hiking trail

The Tuscarora Trail is a 252-mile (406 km) hiking trail in the eastern United States, following the Appalachian Mountains through portions of Virginia, West Virginia, Maryland, and Pennsylvania. Its route is roughly parallel to, and to the west of, the Appalachian Trail.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">North Country Trail</span> Long-distance hiking trail in the US

The North Country Trail is a long-distance hiking trail in the Midwestern and Northeastern United States. The trail extends roughly 4,800 miles (7,700 km) from Lake Sakakawea State Park in North Dakota to the Appalachian Trail in Green Mountain National Forest in Vermont, passing through eight states along its route. As of 2023, most of the trail is in place, though about one-third of the distance consists of road walking; those segments are frequently evaluated for transfer to off-road segments on nearby public or private lands.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Allegheny Mountains</span> Mountain range in the northeastern United States

The Allegheny Mountain Range, informally the Alleghenies, is part of the vast Appalachian Mountain Range of the Eastern United States and Canada and posed a significant barrier to land travel in less developed eras. The Allegheny Mountains have a northeast–southwest orientation, running for about 300 miles (480 km) from north-central Pennsylvania southward, through western Maryland and eastern West Virginia.

The Potomac Heritage Trail, also known as the Potomac Heritage National Scenic Trail or the PHT, is a designated National Scenic Trail corridor spanning parts of the mid-Atlantic region of the United States that will connect various trails and historic sites in Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and the District of Columbia. The trail network includes 710 miles (1,140 km) of existing and planned sections, tracing the natural, historical, and cultural features of the Potomac River corridor, the upper Ohio River watershed in Pennsylvania and western Maryland, and a portion of the Rappahannock River watershed in Virginia. The trail is managed by the National Park Service and is one of three National Trails that are official NPS units.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Old Rag Mountain</span> Mountain in Virginia, US

Old Rag Mountain is a 3,284 feet (1,001 m) mountain near Sperryville in Madison County, Virginia. A part of the Blue Ridge Mountains, the peak is located within Shenandoah National Park and is the most popular hiking destination within the park.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenbrier River</span> River in West Virginia, United States

The Greenbrier River is a tributary of the New River, 162 miles (261 km) long, in southeastern West Virginia, in the United States. Via the New, Kanawha and Ohio rivers, it is part of the watershed of the Mississippi River, draining an area of 1,656 square miles (4,290 km2). It is one of the longest rivers in West Virginia.

The Potomac Highlands of West Virginia centers on five West Virginian counties in the upper Potomac River watershed in the western portion of the state's Eastern Panhandle, bordering Maryland and Virginia. Because of geographical proximity, similar topography and landscapes, and shared culture and history, the Potomac Highlands region is also considered to include Pocahontas, Randolph, and Tucker counties, even though they are in the Monongahela River or New River watersheds and not the Potomac River watershed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">West Virginia Route 150</span> State highway in West Virginia, United States

West Virginia Route 150 is a 22.5-mile (36.2 km) long north–south scenic state highway in the Marlinton and Gauley Ranger Districts of the Monongahela National Forest in southeast West Virginia. The southern terminus of the route is at West Virginia Route 39 and West Virginia Route 55 northwest of Mill Point. The northern terminus is at U.S. Route 219 and WV 55 north of Edray, near Marlinton.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Greenbrier River Trail</span> Long-distance hiking trail in the United States

The Greenbrier River Trail (GRT), is a lineal state park comprising a 77.1-mile (124.1 km) rail trail between North Caldwell and Cass in eastern West Virginia, United States.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Route 311 (Virginia–West Virginia)</span> Adjoining state highways in Virginia and West Virginia, US

Virginia State Route 311 and West Virginia Route 311 are adjoining state highways in the U.S. states of Virginia and West Virginia. The two state highways together run 58.7 miles (94.5 km) from U.S. Route 11 in Salem, Virginia north to Interstate 64 and U.S. Route 60 near White Sulphur Springs, West Virginia. The two Virginia portions of Route 311 are maintained by the Virginia Department of Transportation, with the exception of the city-maintained portion within Salem. The West Virginia segments are maintained by the West Virginia Division of Highways.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Back Allegheny Mountain</span>

Back Allegheny Mountain is a long mountain ridge in eastern West Virginia. It is part of the Shavers Fork Mountain Complex in the Allegheny Range of the Appalachians.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Blackwater Canyon</span>

Blackwater Canyon is a rugged, heavily wooded, eight-mile (13 km) long gorge carved by the Blackwater River in the Allegheny Mountains of eastern West Virginia, USA. For many years, it has been the object of controversy as environmental activists have contended with industrial interests over its ultimate status.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aspetuck Valley Trail</span> Hiking trail in Connecticut, United States

The Aspetuck Valley Trail is a 5.9-mile (9.5 km) Blue-Blazed hiking trail in the Aspetuck River Valley area of Fairfield County in the towns of Newtown, Easton and Redding Connecticut.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">McAfee Knob</span> Location on the Appalachian Trail in Virginia

McAfee Knob is a geological feature with an elevation of 3,197 feet (974 m) above sea level, located on Catawba Mountain in Catawba, Virginia, roughly 15 miles northwest of Downtown Roanoke. It is named for a Scottish-Irish 18th-century settler. Considered to be among the most iconic points along the Appalachian Trail, the vista offers panoramic views of the Catawba Valley, 1,600 feet (490 m) below.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Donut Hole Trail</span> Hiking trail in Pennsylvania

The Donut Hole Trail is a 94.2-mile (151.6 km) hiking trail in north-central Pennsylvania, through Sproul State Forest and roughly parallel to the West Branch Susquehanna River. Most of the trail is in Clinton County, with a short segment at its western end in Cameron County. The Donut Hole Trail is regarded as one of the most challenging and remote backpacking trails in Pennsylvania, encountering just six paved roads along its entire length and featuring many difficult climbs and creek crossings.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Minister Creek Trail</span> Hiking trail in Allegheny National Forest in Pennsylvania

The Minister Creek Trail is a hiking trail in Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania, consisting of a main loop with entrance trail for a total distance of 6.3 miles. An optional spur trail leads away from the loop to a scenic spot and campground on Minister Creek.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Twin Lakes Trail</span> Hiking trail in Pennsylvania, United States

The Twin Lakes Trail is a 15.8-mile (25.4 km) hiking trail in Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania. It is often described as a connection between Twin Lakes Recreation Area in Elk County and the North Country Trail. The Twin Lakes Trail is accessed from the recreation area via a short interpretive trail. It also visits Tionesta Scenic Area. In its eastern and central sections, the Twin Lakes Trail traverses some of the more developed areas of Allegheny National Forest, passing many old oil drilling sites and more recent fracking installations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hickory Creek Trail</span> Hiking trail in Pennsylvania, United States

The Hickory Creek Trail is an 11.6-mile (18.7 km) hiking trail in Allegheny National Forest in northwestern Pennsylvania. The trail traverses remote areas of the Hickory Creek Wilderness; its route includes a large loop and a short entrance trail that must be completed in both directions.

References

  1. ↑ Wood, Doug; Tabor, Bob; Nick, Lozano; Dundas, Charlie; Welker, Carolyn; Schweizer, Shirley; Bond, Bruce; Foley, Arthur. ""A PATH IN THE WOODS": THE WEST VIRGINIA SCENIC TRAILS ASSOCIATION'S FIRST 50 YEARS" (PDF). Squarespace.com. West Virginia Scenic Trails Association. Retrieved 3 November 2024.
  2. 1 2 3 "Allegheny Trail Sections". Allegheny Trail. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Bird, Fred, ed. (1983). Hiking Guide to the Allegheny Trail (1st ed.). Charleston, West Virginia: West Virginia Scenic Trails Association. p. 14.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Wood, Douglas McClure (2019). Edwards, Greg; Hirt, Brian; Anestis, Dianne (eds.). Hiking Guide to the Allegheny Trail (4th ed.). West Virginia Scenic Trails Association. pp. S4S-1 - 4S-9.
  5. ↑ Wood, Doug. "The Beauty and the Beast: The Challenging Lower Glady Fork" (PDF). squarespace.com. EXCERPT FROM AUGUST 2019 WHOOP-N-HOLLER. Retrieved 2024-11-03.
  6. ↑ "CAUTION: POSSIBLE TEMPORARY TRAIL REROUTE ON SECTION 3" (PDF). squarespace.com. West Virginia Scenic Trails Association. January 2022. Retrieved 2024-11-03.

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.